📖 The Book of Psalms
Start reading →Old Testament · 150 chapters · Wisdom
The full range of human experience expressed in honest prayer and worship.
Who wrote Psalms?
Composed over ~600 years. 73 attributed to David; others to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Moses, Solomon, etc.
Why Psalms was written
Israel's prayer book and hymnal — 150 poems and songs covering lament, praise, confession, thanksgiving, and royal hope, teaching the people of God how to speak to him from every circumstance of life.
Outline of Psalms
- 1Book 1 (1–41): Largely Davidic psalms — individual lament and praise
- 2Book 2 (42–72): Mixed authorship; includes the great Psalms of Zion
- 3Book 3 (73–89): Crisis and covenant — the Asaph collection
- 4Book 4 (90–106): Kingship of God; Moses and the wilderness generation
- 5Book 5 (107–150): Praise crescendo — Hallel psalms and Songs of Ascent
Key verses
How Psalms points to Christ
The NT quotes Psalms more than any other OT book. Psalm 22 describes the crucifixion in detail. Psalm 110 is quoted by Jesus of himself. The royal psalms (2, 45, 72, 89) are fulfilled in Christ's eternal kingship.
How Psalms begins
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Read Psalms 1 →